On Or Beside? Which Is Correct?

Could you tell me why the King James Version says that Jesus sat ON the well in John 4:6 while most other versions say BESIDE the well?

Q. Could you tell me why the King James Version says that Jesus sat ON the well in John 4:6 while most other versions say BESIDE the well?

A. The Greek word in question is “epi”. Its primary meaning is on or upon. It can also mean before in the sense of being in front of. So the King James is the most correct. My guess is that since people rarely sit on or upon a well, the other translations chose the word beside out of a desire for clarity.

Out of the 896 times “epi” appears in the New Testament 339 are given miscellaneous translations such as above, beyond, and beside, indicating a wide range of meaning. So technically the other versions aren’t incorrect.